It's just about here. I've had to stop fishing for awhile, can't lift the yak because of this bad neck. I'm having ACDF surgery on 12/8. I'm wondering if anyone has had this surgery (they open you up from the front of the neck, remove a disk and some bone spurs, insert a cadaver bone and plate on the vertibre C6-7). If anyone has, I'd like to find out how long it took you to get back fishing. I have three friends who have had this done, and all three have very different stories, so I'm anxious to here more. My surgeon is Carlos Arce. anyone had any experience with him? My GP told me that he's the best there is in JAX, so that makes me feel better.

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Scars......Tattoo's with better stories
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Ride 135
Tarpon120

You have a PM

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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"I don't carry a gun to look for or start a fight...I carry a gun to end a fight I never wanted to be in."

THis guys surgery was not very successful

Jeff you're just not right!

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"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."
-- Thomas Jefferson

"I don't carry a gun to look for or start a fight...I carry a gun to end a fight I never wanted to be in."

OPharbor... I had a similar surgery back in 2000. Went in through the front of my neck, removed disc at C5/C6 and had a cadaver bone inserted to fuse it. I went with just the cadaver bone only. I had a choice between that and plates and pins. With hardware there is a higher risk of scar tissue forming on them and causing the same type of pain I had before the disc was removed. Bone fusion takes longer to recover but in my opinion it was worth it. I had to wear a collar/brace 24/7 for two months, but the day the dr. let me take it off for good I told the dr. I was taking my family to Six Flags and we were going on the coasters.. He said no problem..and he was right. They said I would lose some range of motion in my neck, but I can still turn my head fine both ways and up and down just like before.. If I look up for a long time though (like holding a ladder and looking up..) my neck gets a little sore, and occasionally I get some neck pain when I sleep in an awkward position, etc.. but I still surf frequently(almost 30 years!) and lead a fairly active lifestyle so I have to say for the most part it was the right decision for me. Good luck with yours.... Dennis.

Hey OPharbor.....Best Wishes and you have my thoughts and prayers for a full and speedy recovery back to normal!!!

Please keep us posted on your progress getting back to fishing condition, and let me know when you are ready to take that "Post-Op Maiden Voyage".....LOL!!!
JohnYaksJax
PS: Suber...You are ONE SICK PUPPY!!!

Just a quick update and thanks. Surgery went extremely well, although they had to do a two level @C5-6;6-7 which was unexpected. This is two weeks and I have no pain (first time since July), the hard brace is comming off today, and I'm anxious to get back to fishing, although I think realisitically it'll be a few weeks yet. I may try some surf fishing this weekend.

Thanks for all the replies and wishes!

Mike
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Scars......Tattoo's with better stories
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Ride 135
Tarpon120

Good deal Mike. Glad you made out ok. Merry Christmas and best wishes for your recovery spell.

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Malibu Kayak 2 arms hp, KeyWest 1720 Pro Flats 90 hp Merc. and FourWinns 1820 200 hp Mercruiser